Saltwater Crocodile Migration into Darwin Harbour Mapped by DNA

Saltwater crocodile
Saltwater crocodile

A study using saltwater crocodile DNA has shone a new light on how the apex predators are migrating along coastlines of the Northern Territory.

Scientists from Charles Darwin University (CDU) believe the majority of crocodiles found in Darwin Harbour are hatched out of nests in rivers within 200 kilometres of the territory capital.

They have done this by matching the DNA of saltwater crocodile found in the harbour with the genetics of populations across northern Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.